Supreme Court denies egg men’s petition

WASHINGTON, May 24, 2017 - Austin “Jack” DeCoster and son Peter, whose salmonella-tainted eggs sickened nearly 2,000 people in 2010, lost their bid to have their three-month prison sentences reviewed by the Supreme Court.

On Monday, the high court rejected the pair’s petition for a writ of certiorari, which was based on the theory that they did not know about the food safety or other violations at their egg facilities and so they did not deserve to go to jail. The case had been seen as a good candidate for the court to review the Park­ doctrine, also called the “responsible corporate officer” doctrine, which Food and Drug Administration officials during the Obama administration said would be used more often to go after officials whose companies were found to violate the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

The DeCosters’ company, Quality Egg, was ordered to pay a fine of $6.79 million, and the DeCosters were each ordered to pay $100,000 fines. Jack DeCoster is in his 80s; his son is in his 50s. They had been free pending the outcome of their petition.

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Dr. Jayson Lusk, Distinguished Professor and Head of the Agriculture Economics Department at Purdue University. With heightened debate on food and farm policy surrounding the development of a new farm bill, Dr. Lusk offers challenging insight about the relationship between political persuasion and food, work requirements for SNAP recipients and evolving preferences in meat consumption.

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The world of agriculture extends beyond what’s growing in your field or living in your barn, and here at Agri-Pulse, we understand that. We make it our duty to inform you of the most up-to-date agricultural and rural policy decisions being made in Washington D.C. and examine how they will affect you – the farmer, the lobbyist, the government employee, the educator, the consultant and the concerned citizen.